NFL or MLB: Why Kyler Murray has to choose baseball

Kyler Murray is just 21 years old, but he’s set to make a decision that will literally change his life. Murray was the No. 9 pick in the 2018 MLB draft by the Oakland A’s last year. With the blessing of the team, he returned to Oklahoma for one last year of football.

That was supposed to be it, but Murray took college football by storm en route to a Heisman-winning campaign. Now, he’s a projected first-round pick for the NFL. And according to the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s are prepared for Murray to enter the NFL draft.

Given the demanding preparation and commitment it takes to be an NFL quarterback, Murray can’t go the route of Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders. Playing both sports is not an option — he has to choose.

At For The Win, we’re here to help. We weighed the pros and cons of both options to make sense of Murray’s impending decision. Let’s break them down.

MLB

Why he should choose baseball

If Murray prioritizes financial stability then this should really be a no-brainer. In baseball, Murray would have a fully guaranteed contract to go along with his current $4.66 million signing bonus. The average MLB career is nearly twice as long as the average football career, and he would get to play a sport that doesn’t carry the risks of major injury or degenerative brain disease. All Murray has to do is look at the contracts that Bryce Harper and Manny Machado will sign this offseason — they each could be cashing in on $300 million fully guaranteed. Even the top NFL quarterbacks won’t come close — in terms of guaranteed money — to what MLB can offer. Murray has to think longterm here, and baseball offers him the ability to play longer, stay healthier and make more money.

Why he shouldn’t choose baseball

Murray just won the Heisman Trophy. You expect him to be rushing for the chance to ride a bus through the Southwest with the Stockton Ports? Nobody can get excited about that. There’s also no guarantee that Murray will reach the MLB — albeit the chances are favorable. From 2009 to 2015, 51 players (out of 70) drafted in the top 10 made MLB debuts. Choosing baseball would mean Murray is betting on himself to make the MLB because otherwise he’d have just that $4.6 million signing bonus to live off us (which is still a lot of money but it’s not NFL first-round money). Baseball is a risk with a huge payoff, but it’s still that — a risk.

NFL

Why he should choose football

Baseball players may get more money in the long run, but football players — specifically star quarterbacks — have the fame that transcends the American sports landscape. Football can fill stadiums in London and not be just an American novelty. Players like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Odell Beckham Jr. are known worldwide. In most cities, Mike Trout can walk in public unnoticed despite being the best baseball player on the planet. Again, the money doesn’t quite level up with baseball, but Murray (as a top 5 pick) would still be looking at around $30 million guaranteed right now. Not after three years of minor-league ball and another three years of below-value, pre-arbitration pay — right now.

Life is short. Why wait to get paid? Plus, as a quarterback, Murray gets to be the guy running the show. It’s a completely different experience standing around in center field. It’s a lot to ask to have the Heisman Trophy winner give up something he’s uniquely talented at to be a speedy outfielder with limited power.

Why he shouldn’t choose football

As awesome as Murray was at Oklahoma, he’ll still have to overcome being a 5-foot-9 NFL quarterback. While I think height is an overrated quality for quarterbacks (just ask Russell Wilson), NFL general managers usually prefer a quarterback who can see over the line. Murray will have to rely on his speed and scrambling ability, which could lead to durability issues if he takes a beating from NFL defenses. The risk of injury is far greater in football. Given everything we know about the dangers and risks of football, it’s almost shocking that Murray would choose a living in football when he’s positioned for a long, successful career in baseball. If he values the quality of his life in 30 years, football really shouldn’t be the answer.

What he should choose

Baseball. Always choose baseball. Murray could be Jason Heyward bad and still make $184 million in one contract. Murray’s future self is begging him to choose baseball.

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